Man who died after riding Universal roller coaster loved theme parks, family says, as they seek answers in his death

(ORLANDO, Fla.) — The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, the man who died after riding a roller coaster at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park in Florida last week, remembered the 32-year-old as a roller coaster enthusiast, as attorneys for the family said they are conducting an independent investigation into his death.

Zavala became unresponsive while riding the new Stardust Racers roller coaster at the Universal Orlando Resort park on Sept. 17, according to a statement from Universal Orlando Resort. He was transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead, park officials said.

He died from multiple blunt impact injuries, according to the local medical examiner, who determined the manner of death to be accidental.

Zavala’s family has since retained civil rights attorney Ben C